U.S. Economic News
May 21, 2018
U.S. Economic Indicators
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index ticked up from +0.32 (revised) in March to +0.34 in April. The production, sales, and employment components made positive contributions while the personal consumption & housing component contributed negatively. Chicago Fed Report
U.S. News
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. has suspended its threat to impose tariffs on $150 billion of Chinese imports. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said that the tariffs will be put on hold while the two countries negotiate a trade deal that would aim to reduce the bilateral trade deficit and ease investment restrictions in both countries. WSJ
The Wall Street Journal writes that major oil companies are embracing Latin America as the target for much of their investment in new wells. Latin America has become a profitable source of oil for many international firms, though the risk of political turmoil and resource nationalism has become problematic in some areas. WSJ